THTR T371 Sec. 4060 R. Wainscott

History of Western Theatre and Drama II: Circa 1700 to the
Present

9:30a-10:45a TR 3 cr. hrs.

This section fulfills AHLA and CSB requirements.

This course surveys the theatre history and dramatic literature of
Restoration England (1660-1700), Europe and America in the 18th century,
19th century Romanticism and melodrama in Europe and the United States, as
well as Western theatre and drama from the time of Ibsen to the present.
The theatre is examined as both an artistic and humanistic discipline.
Significant plays, playwrights, actors, designers, directors, producers,
and other theatre artists, along with production methods, theatre
architecture, and dramatic theory are placed in their historical,
political, artistic, social, philosophical and religious contexts.
Throughout the process, however, we will give special attention to
theatrical space and the semiotic possibilities of places of performance
and the kinds of plays performed in those spaces. It is hoped that the
student will leave this course not only with a better understanding of
theatre and drama in their historical setting, but with the ability to
make important connections between theatre of the past and our current
experiences with theatre, the other fine and performing arts, and our
contemporary life styles.

TEXTS:

Brockett, History of the Theatre, 7th ed.

Vena and Nouryeh, Drama and Performance from which we
read Behn, The Rover; Goldsmith, She Stoops to
Conquer; Hugo, Hernani; Daly, Under the
Gaslight; Ibsen, Ghosts; Chekhov, The Sea
Gull; Strindberg, A Dream Play; O'NEILL, The
Hairy Ape; Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Pinter,
The Birthday Party; Baraka, Dutchman; Soyinka,
Death and the King's Horseman; Fornes, The Conduct of
Life; Havel, Largo Desolato.